Insurance requirements

Travel and medical insurance are a New Zealand Government requirement and compulsory for all international students studying in New Zealand regardless of the type of visa held by the student. It is also a requirement of your Student Visa.

Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment. Full details on entitlements on publicly-funded health services are available from the New Zealand Ministry of Health. The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for temporary visitors to New Zealand but you may still be liable for all other medical and related costs. Further information can be viewed on the ACC website.

You must ensure your insurance meets the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. A copy of the code is available in English on our website. You can also read the Code in different languages from the NZQA website.

Students in All Programmes

Southern Cross International Student Travel Insurance (SCTI) is Unitec's preferred insurance provider. All Unitec Placed insurance will be with SCTI.

Unitec has arranged a group policy with our default provider, Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI), under the Student Insurance Travel Plan. If you wish to take advantage of this, go to your Enrolment Portal, download the Application form, complete, sign and upload it.

The premium charge is to be paidahead of your arrival in NZ. It is not included in and is separate from the tuition fee but can be paid at the same time as your tuition fee. Your SCTI policy will be issued to the email address noted on your Unitec records at the beginning of semester.

Your insurance should begin from the day of departure from your home country and stay current until your final visa expiry date. You will need to provide a completed copy of the SCTI Insurance Application Form attached to your Offer of Place at least two weeks before International Orientation.

If you are arranging for your own (Unitec approved) Insurance, you are required to provide the details by emailing the insurance team on insurance@unitec.ac.nz at least 2 weeks prior to the International Orientation date (new students) or 2 weeks prior to the expiry of your current insurance policy (current Unitec students). This is to ensure that this is acceptable by Unitec. Any late submissions of your Insurance Certificate will not be accepted.

Policy requirements

The minimum benefits of insurance needed to meet the requirements set out by Unitec are:

Medical – cover must be unlimited

Repatriation – NZ$600,000

Expatriation – NZ$30,000

Accompanying family's emergency travel – NZ$15,000

Travel delays/contingencies – NZ$25,000

Personal items at least - NZ$15,000

Personal liability - NZ$500,000

All insurance policies should:

Cover you from date of departure from your home, apply while you are in transit and continue for the period of your enrolment/visa dates.

Applying for Southern Cross Student Travel Insurance

Unitec has arranged a group policy with our default provider, Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI), under the Student Travel Insurance Plan. Please note: this insurance is offered only while you are enrolled at Unitec.

The Insurance Application form can be downloaded from the insurance task tab in your enrolment portal. Alternatively, you can download the insurance form, after reading all information here and return or email the completed and signed form to insurance@unitec.ac.nz at least two weeks before the International Orientation date.

2. Pay the insurance premium

The insurance premium can be paid when you pay your tuition fees. If studying in an Intensive English programme,you must pay the insurance premium together with your tuition and enrolment fees.

If you have already paid your tuition fees, simply pay the insurance premium to the same account number shown on your Offer of Place. Make sure to note your payment is for insurance and include your Student ID number. Remember, you must pay the extra bank telegraphic transfer fee.

Unitec do not complete claims for students. If you need to make a claim against your SCTI policy, please claim directly with SCTI.

Arranging your own Insurance

If you arrange for your own insurance, it must be approved by Unitec and provided to the International Insurance Office or emailed to insurance@unitec.ac.nz at least two weeks before International Orientation (new students) or two weeks before the expiry of your current insurance policy (current students).

The Policy certificate must show the following information in English:

Approved Alternative Overseas Policies

Disclaimer: Unitec reserves the right to withdraw any of the above policies from its approved list at any time.

Note: Policies not on the Unitec approved list above will not be accepted. Late submissions of insurance certificates will not be accepted.

You will automatically be insured with Unitec's default policy SCTI and the insurance premium charged to your Unitec student account in the following cases:

Your current policy does not meet the requirements set out by Unitec

Your certificate is not provided before the submission due date.

FAQs about insurance

I am an international student. Do I need insurance?

The Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 requires all international students enrolled for a course for two weeks or more to have appropriate insurance for the duration of time that the student is enrolled. The insurance should cover for the student’s travel to and from New Zealand and within and outside New Zealand. This is done to protect students from the high financial costs due to unforeseen incidents. In addition to that, international students are required to hold appropriate insurance for the duration of their student visa by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). Please view the requirements here.

What is covered in Unitec placed insurance policy?

Unitec automatically covers students on a renewing basis relevant to enrolment/visa status under the blanket policy held with our preferred provider Southern Cross International Student Travel Insurance (SCTI). This is offered to students at a discounted premium.

The details of the policy can be found on SCTI’s website here. The key benefits include cover for:

Medical and evacuation expenses

Travel delays and cancellations

Baggage and personal items

Cash and travel documents

Personal liability

Personal accident

Rental vehicle excess

Some of the sections have sub limits for certain types of claims.

Personal contents – you will need to advise admin@scti.co.nz to add items over $2,000 per individual item value.

Please find attached the Policy wording document for details. Please feel free to get back to us for any further information or clarification if required.

How much will the Unitec placed SCTI cost me?

Unitec automatically covers students on a renewing basis relevant to enrolment/visa status under the blanket policy held with our preferred provider Southern Cross International Student Travel Insurance (SCTI). Premium payment is two weeks prior to International Orientation date. The charge is separate to and not included in tuition fees.

Insurance premium is calculated on a monthly basis. The current Unitec charge for insurance is as follows:

Duration

Pricing($NZD)

1 Month

63.00

2 Months

125.10

3 Months

155.70

4 Months

189.90

5 Months

236.70

6 Months

284.40

7 Months

332.10

8 Months

378.90

9 Months

426.60

10 Months

473.40

11 Months

521.10

12 Months

569.70

13 Months

615.60

14 Months

663.30

15 Months

711.90

16 Months

757.80

17 Months

806.40

18 Months

854.10

19 Months

900.90

20 Months

948.60

21 Months

996.30

22 Months

1043.10

23 Months

1090.80

24 Months

1138.50

Please note these charges are indicative.

What is covered under the Unitec placed Southern Cross Travel Insurance?

SCTI’s comprehensive plan includes cover for:

Medical and evacuation expenses

Travel delays and cancellations

Baggage and personal items

Cash and travel documents

Personal liability

Personal accident

Rental vehicle excess

Please read the Policy Wording for details including sub-limits and conditions for particular claims.

How do I pay for my insurance?

The insurance charge is separate to and not included in your tuition fees. It can be paid with your tuition fees. Premium payment is two weeks prior to International Orientation. Receipt of payment is generated by Unitec International Finance who will advise you once processed.

Is there any difference between the Unitec placed SCTI and Southern Cross Insurance Policy for students that I plan to purchase?

Unitec covers students on a renewing basis relevant to enrolment/visa status under the blanket policy held with our preferred provider- Southern Cross International Student Travel Insurance (SCTI). There is no difference in both except that students who have insurance placed through Unitec have certain benefits as covered in the subsequent section.

What are the benefits of opting for Unitec placed insurance?

Unitec offers Southern Cross Travel Insurance to students at a discounted premium. Furthermore, having Unitec placed insurance ensures that the insurance policy meets the minimum requirements of the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016- Tertiary and Immigration New Zealand.

Can I add my family members to Unitec placed SCTI?

You can add your family to the Unitec placed cover. To add family members to a student policy, you will need to email SCTI. Payment is made direct to SCTI at the time of application for your family members. You will be responsible to add family members each time your policy expires as they will not automatically be renewed under your Unitec student cover. Alternatively, you can insure family members separately, see here.

I am going to study a short course. Do I still need insurance?

All international students enrolled in a course that runs for two weeks or more are required to have appropriate insurance at all times during their enrolment period regardless of the type of visa held.

What happens in case of claims?

SCTI has advised that all claims must be true, valid and not misleading. If found to be fraudulent, your policy could be cancelled which could affect your enrolment at Unitec

I hold a work permit. Do I still need insurance?

All International students enrolled at an educational institution for two weeks or longer are required to hold insurance whilst enrolled even if they depart New Zealand during the semester break.This is regardless of the type of visa held by the International Student and all tertiary providers are required to ensure the same to comply with the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016. Some work visa holders will be eligible for publicly funded health services. This covers the Code of Practice requirement for medical care in New Zealand but not the other three aspects that the Code of Practice 2016 states must be covered (travel, repatriation, death). As a result, work visa holders also need to hold appropriate insurance as other International Students.

What if I need my insurance to commence earlier than the standard start date?

If insurance is required to commence prior to the standard start date (1st February or 1st July), you will need to advise Unitec Insurance here and include copies of your Student Visa and air ticket showing departure from your home country. This may generate a small increase in premium.

I have received my insurance policy but that only covers one semester whereas I paid for two semesters. Why is that and where is my balance money?

When you receive your SCTI policy and you have only been insured for 1 semester but paid for 2 semesters, your insurance will renew automatically for the next semester relevant to enrolment. The balance difference will be held in your Student Account and will be credited towards your next semester’s cover.

I have overpaid for my insurance. Can I have a refund for that?

Overpaid insurance can be refunded to the student or held for the insurance cover for your subsequent semesters. Please email the refund request to our Unitec Insurance Team.

What are pre-existing conditions and does the Unitec placed SCTI cover my pre-existing conditions?

SCTI consider a pre-existing condition to be any medical or physical condition (including congenital conditions, anomalies or defects but excluding congenital blindness and deafness), symptom or circumstance which a person is aware of, or a reasonable person in that person’s circumstances ought to have been aware of for which advice (including awaiting test results), care, treatment, medication or medical attention has been sought, given, or recommended prior to the start date of your insurance and regardless of whether or not a medical diagnosis has been made. This covers any pre-existing medical condition/s prior to your arrival to NZ. If you have questions about what you should or shouldn’t declare, please email SCTI here or refer to the Southern Cross Travel Insurance website.

Starting August 2018, pre-existing conditions, if any, should be made known to Unitec at the time of application. Based on the information provided, Unitec will then liaise with Southern Cross Travel Insurance to assess if the pre-existing condition can be included in the insurance policy to be placed. It may result in an additional premium as advised by Southern Cross and this will be communicated to the student. If the pre-existing condition cannot be included in the insurance policy, Unitec will consider the application on a case by case basis which may require additional time.

For students who are currently on Unitec placed policies- Pre-existing conditions are not automatically covered under your Southern Cross International Student (SCTI) policy. If you wish to request cover for a pre-existing condition, you will need to contact SCTI within the first 31 days of your policy being issued.

Can I arrange my own insurance?

We are happy for students to arrange their own insurance provided it meets requirements, unfortunately, often it does not. The insurer will need to be on the list of Unitec Approved Insurance Providers listed above. Policy details should be forwarded to Unitec Insurance at least two weeks prior to International Orientation (new students) or two weeks prior to the expiry of your current insurance (Current Unitec Students). The student is then responsible to provide renewed continuing insurance throughout their enrolment period with no break in cover. If not received by the submission date, Unitec will place a Southern Cross International Student Travel Insurance (SCTI) cover relevant to your enrolment and charge your Unitec account.

What are the minimum insurance policy requirements?

The minimum benefits of insurance needed to meet the requirements set out by Unitec are:

Medical – cover must be unlimited

Repatriation – NZ$600,000

Expatriation – NZ$30,000

Accompanying family's emergency travel – NZ$15,000

Travel delays/contingencies – NZ$25,000

Personal items at least - NZ$15,000

Personal liability - NZ$500,000

All insurance policies should cover you from the date of departure from your home, apply while you are in transit ,and continue for the period of your enrolment/visa dates.